Niveus Media has announced its high-end media server updates for the 2008 model year. Like you'd expect from computer-based hardware, there are the requisite refreshes of components (processor, hard drive, video card, etc.). But a major new feature is the inclusion of a "Pro Audio" soundcard in their Pro Series (n7 and n9) and Summit Series (
Denali and Denali Limited Edition) rigs. The new soundcard handles 7.1 channels with its Burr-Brown DACs and boasts a whopping 118dB SNR. For the bitheads out there, that's way more than the theoretical 96dB provided by CD audio, and a full 20-bits of resolution. Pro Audio is available now; pricing of these high-end systems starts at $5k for the Pro Series and $8k for the Summit boxes. Pricey, but we'll go on dreaming.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Still no 7.1 Digital solution @ Nov 17th 2007 1:37AM
Yawn..."7.1 analog audio"
Question: When will there be a PC sound card capable of sending a 7.1 DIGITAL signal to a receiver? Answer: Not any time soon. Only HDMI can handle a 7.1 DIGITAL transmission (Digital Audio and Toslink can only handle 5.1). One bizarre requirement of the HDMI spec is that you need video when sending audio. You don't need audio when sending video.
This would likely require a dual HDMI video card & sound card combination with a direct internal attachment to the HD header. Or, I suppose you could simply make an HDMI sound card that sends a fake video signal with the audio. Either way, it does not appear that this is not happening any time soon.
Even though there isn't a whole lot of HD 7.1 content now (? Weeds on Blu-Ray), HTPCs can not get that DIGITAL 7.1 signal to a receiver right now. So, its Dolby EX for the foreseeable future to simulate 7.1 from a 5.1 signal. This product does not change that scenario.
Beau @ Nov 17th 2007 2:26AM
The ATI HD2000 series cards have hdmi out with an integrated digital audio source that can act just the same as a digital audio out on a pc, but this gives you the full hdmi audio spec, also with the 7.1 analog out you could hook up to a 7.1 receiver with 7.1 analog in and do your play back that way.
JeffDM @ Nov 18th 2007 6:59PM
It looks to me like you can just directly hook up this thing to an amp and not even have to deal with a receiver.
Unfortunately, this card is kind of irrelevant if it can only be bought with a Niveus HTPC. I thought the whole thing was a huge amp, but that's an HTPC.
Aaron @ Nov 17th 2007 8:56PM
@Beau
The ATI HD2000 series cards (and any other current HDMI based video card) simply takes an optical/toslink passthrough from the motherboard. Since optical / toslink can only carry up to a 5.1 digital signal, these cards are not going to carry a 7.1 digital signal. As mentioned above, there is currently no way to get a 7.1 DIGITAL signal from an HTPC to a receiver. There are plenty of AVSForum members with multiple threads talking about this void in integration technology between an HTPC and a receiver. Sure, you can get a 7.1 analog signal to a receiver but if you have high-end processing capability in your receiver, it is kind of a waste.
"ATI Avivo HD Video & Media Technology
ATI Avivo HD technology found in the ATI Radeon HD 2000 Series enables stunning big-screen entertainment with advanced hardware HD video processing (UVD*) and HDMI connectivity that includes built-in ****5.1 surround audio****. Home theater aficionados will be mesmerized by ATI Avivo HD technology that delivers sharp images and vibrant color fidelity from 1080p playback of Blu-ray and HD DVDs."
Thomas @ Nov 17th 2007 1:23PM
Perfect!
http://www.spymac.com/details/?2292171